Fracture

Fracture

definition:
Any break in a bone.

etiology:
There are many types of fractures:
• Partial (incomplete): break across the bone is incomplete.
• Complete: bone is broken in two pieces.
• Closed (simple): broken bone does not protrude through the skin.
• Open (compound): broken bone protrudes through the skin.
• Comminuted: bone is splintered at the broken area and many smaller fragments of bone are found between the two main pieces.
• Greenstick: only occurs in young animals and is defined by having one side of the bone break and the other side just bend. Often seen in the radius.
• Stress: partial fracture resulting from the inability of the bone to withstand repeated stresses (e.g. doing aerobics on hard surfaces, running long distances).